Automatic vending-machine for post-cards or like articles.



R. BARTA. AUTOMATIC VENDING MAOHINHPOR POST CARDS 0R LIKE ARTICLES.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 19, 1910.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0, WASHINGTON, D c

RUDOLF BAR/TA, OF NEW YORK,.1 T. Y.

AUTOMATIC VENDING-MACHINE FOR POST-CARDS OR LIKE ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0013.31, 1911.

Application filed November 19, 1910. Serial No. 593,151.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDoLF BARTA, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Vending Machines for Post- Cards or Like Articles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention pertains to automatic vending machines for post cards, illustrated cards, pictures or like articles and has for its object to provide a machine.

which will allow the display of a great number of such articles of different design, size or other characteristic and which by the operation of a coin device will automatically deliver the article.

The principle of my invention consists in that upon the circumference of a rotary drum inclosed in a transparent case, a plurality of pockets are provided each adapted to contain a number of cards or like articles of differentdesign, size or other characteristic, which drum when turned around will expose the various articles to the observer and upon the selection of the desired article, may be brought into a position, in which the card or article selected upon the deposition of a coin and the actuating of a coin device will be automatically delivered.

To make my invention more clear, the same is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which similar reference letters denote corresponding parts and in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus, some parts being for the sake of clearness broken away; Fig. 2 is a partial top plan view of the apparatus from which the cupola or cover has been removed; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. l; and Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged vertical sections of the coin operated delivering device, illustrated in different positions.

With reference to the drawing, which forms a part of this specification, 1 denotes a transparent casing, which in the present example, is shown to be of rectangular shape and provided with glass windows 2 arranged on all sides. On top, the casing is formed with a detachable cover or cupola 3 and on the bottom it may be formed with a suitable pedestal, standard, foot or as in the present example, with a base 4, so that the apparatus may according as desired, be

placed on the floor, on a table, counter, etc. Rotatively' arranged in said casing upon a spindle 5 is a drum or cylinder 5 of any suitable material and shape. In the present example, the drum is shown of polygonal cross section. Secured to the circumference of said cylinder to extend downward in a slanting manner are a plurality of pockets or compartments 6. In the present example, one pocket is secured to each circumferential plane of the polygonal drum. These pockets are formed by plates having lateral flanges 6 and a cross flange 6 at the bot tom, the latter having rounded edges 6. The pockets or compartments are adapted each to receive a number of cards or like articles C stored on top of one another and resting on the bottom flanges 6 of the pockets. Rotatively ournaled in the lower part of each pocket is a friction roller 7 which extends crosswise thereto. The cards or like articles contained in the pocket are adapted to be constantly pressed against this roller by a suitable spring mechanism, which, in the present example is formed of spring arms 8 secured to the back of the pocket and extending downward. The lower ends 8 of these arms are bent forward to engage through apertures 9 into the pocket and carry a cross piece 11 adapted to press the cards or like articles from the rear against the friction rollers 7.

One of the journals of each friction roller carries a pinion 12 by means of which rotation is imparted to the friction roller 7 from a mechanism adapted to be operated from a suitable slot or coin device. This mechanism, which is adapted to operate the pinion 12 consists of a toothed sector arm 15 pivotally secured in the casing 1, as at 16, and adapted to extend crosswise to the path of the rotary drum. Normally, when the coin or slot device is not operated, this sector arm is adapted to lie out of the path of the rotary drum and to be held in that position by a suitable spring 17 which constantly tends to draw it rearward and downward (see Fig. The end of the sector arm opposite the toothed portion thereof is adapted to be operated from a part 14: of the coin device, which part is capable of being operated only upon the deposition of a coin. By the operation of the part 14,

the toothed sector arm 15 against the tension of its spring 17 is turned in the direction of arrow as and lifted into the path of the rotary drum, thereby engaging and operating the pinion 12, in consequence of which the friction roller 7 receives a rotary motion in the direction of the arrow y (Figs. l and 5) delivering the card or article from the respective pocket. As stated above, the edge 63 of the bottom flange 62 of each pocket is rounded (Figs. t and 5) so that the foremost card of the series contained in the pocket when operated by the friction roller, will easily slip over the said edge to be delivered. Arranged at one side of the sector arm and extending downward and outward from the casing is a curved tray or chute 18 along which the card when delivered, shoots down.

The cylinder or drum is provided with a ratchet wheel 19, with which coeperates a pawl 20. The teeth of the said ratchet wheel. are so arranged as to allow of a single compartment or pocket containing the articles being brought to register with the delivering tray each time the drum is fed forward by one tooth. The spindle 5 of the drum projects outward through the cupola 3 and carries a knob 21 or the like for the manipulation of the drum.

Before the deposition of a coin, the observer is able to intermittently turn the drum around any number of times, exposing each series of cards or like articles to his eyes. Upon his selection of a certain card which he desires to purchase, he will bring the drum to a standstill in a position in which the compartment containing the desired card will register with the delivering tray. Upon the insertion of a certain coin, he is able to operate the coin device, in consequence of which the aforenamed sector arm 15 will be brought into meshing connection with and will operate the pin,- ion 12 0f the friction roller 7 of the respective pocket and the desired card delivered.

Of course, since modifications may be made in the various parts of the apparatus without deviating from the spirit of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the particualr construction specified and shown.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic vending machine for cards or like articles, a rotary mechanism having a plurality of pockets or compartments to hold the said articles, a rotary friction means carried by each of the said pockets and adapted to frictionally engage said articles and means arranged crosswise to the path of the said rotary pocket mechanism and adapted to be thrown into engagement with the said friction means and to operate the latter, so as to deliver the selected article.

2. In an automatic vending machine for cards or like articles, a rotary mechanism having a plurality of pockets or compartments to hold said articles, a rotary friction means carried by each of the said pockets and adapted to frictionally engage said articles, a gear carried by said friction means and means arranged crosswise to the path of the said rotary mechanism and adapted to be thrown into engagement with the said gear to operate the latter so as to deliver the selected article.

3, In an automatic vending machine for cards or like articles, of a transparent casing, a rotary mechanism therein having a plurality of pockets or compartments to hold said articles, a friction roller carried by each of said pockets and adapted to frictionally engage said articles, a gear connected with said roller, a toothed sector arm pivotally secured in said casing crosswise to the path of the said rotary pocket mechanism and adapted to be thrown into meshing connection with the said gear and to operate the latter and the said friction roller, so as to deliver the selected article.

4. In an automatic vending machine for cards or like articles, a transparent casing, a rotary mechanism therein having a plu rality of pockets or compartments to hold said articles, means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to said pocket mechanism, a friction roller carried by each of said pockets and adapted to constantly press against said articles, a gear connected with said roller, a toothed sector arm pivotally secured in said casing crosswise to the path of the said rotary pocket mechanism and adapted to be thrown into meshing connection with the said gear and to operate the latter and the said friction roller, so as to deliver the selected article.

In an automatic vending machine for cards or like articles, a transparent cas ing, a rotary mechanism therein having a plurality of pockets or compartments to hold said articles, a friction roller carried .by each of said pockets, a spring mechanism constantly pressing the said articles against the said friction roller, a gear connected with the said friction roller, a toothed sector arm pivotally secured in said casing crosswise to the path of the said rotary pocket mechanism and adapted to be thrown into meshing connection with the said gear and to operate the latter and the said friction roller, so as to deliver the selected article.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLF BARTA. Witnesses JOHN T. CARMODY, MAX D. ORDMANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

